Sunday, September 30, 2012

The Dark Knight Trilogy: The Complete Screenplays with Storyboards Book Review

About the Book: Over 60 pages of storyboards Symposium featuring the three screenwriters Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan and David S. Goyer discuss the evolution of Batman and the creation of the films Includes the imminent DARK KNIGHT RISES starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Morgan Freeman, among othersOur Take: The recent announcement of the Dark Knight Rises coming to blu-ray in December is getting fans of the Nolan trilogy pretty excited. Well, we have a long time to wait until then, so in the meantime how do you get your bat-fix? This book from OPUS provides fans with screenplays from ALL three Nolan films: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and the Dark Knight Rises. This nice, thick softcover volume also gives us some sampling of storyboards from each film, as well. This book is an absolute must-have for any Nolan bat-fan. How to Buy:Amazon.com

We finally get confirmation that the Dark Knight Rises is out on December 4th with a blu-ray and collector's edition sets. On that day we also get a Dark Knight Trilogy collection, with a special edition of that collection due out in 2013.

The Dark Knight Rises blu-ray will featuring the following extras:Bonus features for the Blu-ray will include the following:

The Batmobile Documentary: Witness all five Batmobiles
together for the first time in history. Dive deep into every aspect of the most
awe-inspiring weapon in Batman's arsenal as you journey through the birth and
evolution of this technological marvel and cultural icon.

Ending the Knight: A comprehensive look into how Director
Christopher Nolan and his production team made "The Dark Knight Rises" the epic
conclusion to the Dark Knight legend.

The Tower
Chronicles is a new comic book series produced by Legendary Comics,
featuring the creative minds of Simon Bisley and the legendary Matt
Wagner. Wagner is, of course, most famous for his original creation Grendel.
Simon Bisley has partnered with Wagner in the past when he did the
covers for the complete Dark Horse Comics Grendel: War Child run...which
was my personal introduction to that series. I've been a huge fan of
both ever since. This new comic is like a mega powers of the comic book
industry. Its like the team-up of Batman and Superman. Its epic. The
Tower Chronicles is the tale of John Tower, a supernatural bounty
hunter. His missions lead him into mankind's most dangerous places to
banish poltergeists, demons, and other supernatural evils that plague
his “sometimes respectable” patrons.

I had the chance
to check out a sneak preview of the comic and the art is fantastic..the
writing is great and I cannot wait to pick up the first issue this
week! I'm actually headed to the comic shop tomorrow to pick it up.
The issue comes in two covers a Bisley cover and a Jim Lee cover. I'm
going to get the Biz cover myself, but both look great. We definately
recommend this one and you can watch for ongoing coverage of the series
here and on ToyLegion.com. In the meantime, check out and follow the official Tower Chronicles Facebook page!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Coin-Op Tv's own Robert Welkner went to the red carpet event for the animated "The Dark Knight Returns" movie out TODAY and got some cool interviews with voice talent including Peter Weller and Bruce Timm.

What Businesses Can Learn from the Rebranding of Batman Exec Producer Shares How His Vision Helped the Dark Knight Take WingIt’s been more than two decades since Batman was resurrected – rebranded – to the mainstream world, and it’s largely due to a boy and his dream.“I wasn’t just rejected from every studio in Hollywood; I was emphatically rejected because Batman was known only as a punch line to a joke,” says Michael Uslan, who became one of the highest-grossing movie executive producers of all time with the Batman film franchise. He writes about his personal journey in rebranding his hero to the world in his memoir, The Boy Who Loved Batman (www.theboywholovedbatman.com). “When I watched the sitcom in 1966, I was both thrilled and horrified – the former because my idol was on TV with a cool car, and the latter because people were laughing at Batman and that just killed me. I knew then that my purpose in life was to show everyone who the Dark Knight really was.”Uslan reviews some of the reasons the Batman franchise became one of the most successful in film history:• A talented team: Thanks to genius filmmakers like Christopher Nolan and Tim Burton, super producers, daring execs, amazing casts, and incredible crews, the rebranding of the character became so strong that the word “Batman” wasn’t even included in the titles of the last two films, “The Dark Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises.” • Branding – a built-in narrative: A cool symbol, check; tall, dark and handsome, check; a relatable origin story (no superpowers) check; great technology for the character to use against villains, check … You know a brand has hit the mark when a logo conveys all of the key points. But rebranding can be tricky. Uslan knew about the innate potential, but Hollywood couldn’t see Batman as the Dark Knight after the 1960s sitcom, which is why it took a decade after acquiring the rights to Batman to actually start production. Rebranding is often the art of uncovering a product’s past, he says. • Branding – a safer investment: Other successful movies this year -- Marvel’s “The Avengers” and “The Amazing Spider-Man,” “The Hunger Games” – all carry strong brands. Most successful products, in and out of Hollywood, have successful brands behind them, Uslan notes. When a brand has been established, it becomes a safer risk for investors and opens multiple revenue streams across many platforms. • Unwavering conviction: How does a middle-class kid in his 20s, the son of a stonemason and a bookkeeper, buy the film rights to Batman? How does that same guy create the comic-to-film craze that society has witnessed in the past two decades when no one believed in his vision? Every time his resolve was questioned, it came down to the same answer, “I had 100 percent confidence it would work,” Uslan says. “Branding is absolutely the most important aspect to marketing any product these days,” Uslan says. “We succeeded. I believed 100 percent in a vision that involved my favorite super-hero of all time, a character the world recognized and responded to across borders and even cultures. Batman needed to be presented in a way he’d only been seen in the comic books – as the Dark Knight.”

About Michael UslanMichael Uslan, (www.theuslancompany.com), is the Originator and Executive Producer, along with his partner Benjamin Melniker, of the Batman franchise of motion pictures. In his 36 years in the film and television industry, he has been involved with such projects as “National Treasure,” “Constantine,” and countless animated projects. His projects have won Oscars, Golden Globes and Emmy Awards. He is the author of “The Boy Who Loved Batman,” his autobiography, now in bookstores and at amazon.com.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, PART 1, the next entry in thepopular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies,arrives TODAY, September 25, 2012 from Warner Home Video as a Blu-ray™Combo Pack and DVD, On Demand and for Download. The PG-13 film isproduced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros.Animation.

Hey Batman Fans in LA. The BATMAN LIVE WORLD ARENA TOUR is coming to STAPLES Center September 27-30. The show features an original plot line, Aerial stunts, special effects, and is a spectacular show for the entire family. Contact Ryan Leach at (213) 742-7439 or email him at RLeach@STAPLESCenter.com and tell him you were referred to by Legions of Gotham and he can give you a special discount and options.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Synopsis:
It is ten years after an aging Batman has retired, and Gotham City has sunk
deeper into decadence and lawlessness. Now, when his city needs him most, the
Dark Knight returns in a blaze of glory. Joined by Carrie Kelly, a teenage
female Robin, Batman takes to the streets to end the threat of the mutant gangs
that have overrun the city. And after facing off against his two greatest
enemies, the Joker and Two-Face, for the final time, Batman finds himself in
mortal combat with his former ally, Superman, in a battle that only one of them
will survive. Review:
The Dark Knight Returns, Part One paints a phenominal picture of a
tortured and hollow Bruce Wayne, trying desperately to keep the promise
that had set the Batman into retirement for the past decade. Now, with
the mutant gang escalating their violence and Harvey Dent on the lamb,
Bruce is pushed over the edge mentally and emotionally...and he must
bring back the Bat.

Its truly a thing of beauty to watch as the
animators bring the Bat back into this grim and dark Gotham. He attacks
from the shadows, sharp and brutal..just the way all good fanboys wish
for. The theme music is very Nolanesque and the action is intense.
They do a wonderful job of bringing this very 80s themed tale into the
modern age. Peter Weller's portrayl of the Bat is gritty, dark and
grim. Exactly what you'd imagine when reading the comics.

Its
funny...as a kid and an adult fan I've read through the graphic novel
dozens of times..it changed the way I viewed comic books. And I figured
watching this would be a little dull, since I am so familiar with the
story....but they did such an amazing job of bringing this epic tale to
life that I was riveted to the screen. This is one of the best animated
adaptations of Batman to date. To watch this first part of the
legendary saga was a breath of fresh air for me as a fan. After the
overhyped live action version out this summer, I felt let down. This
animated feature has revitalized my passion and has reminded me what I
love the most about Batman.

Parental warning - this is not a
children's Batman cartoon. This is based on a very graphic comic and
contains its share of cursing, violence and blood.Links:DVD LegionInterest Range: Animation, Dc Comics

Thursday, September 20, 2012

The Dark Knight trilogy
is too compelling of a world to let sit idle, even if Warner Brothers reboots
the story and Batman on the silver screen.

By
BRIAN HEATON

Director Christopher
Nolan has been adamant that “The Dark Knight Rises” marks the end of his
involvement with the Batman movie franchise. But after ending the trilogy with
some big question marks, the Gotham envisioned by Nolan has to continue, even if
it is relegated to officially licensed novels and comic adaptions.

From the revelation that
John Blake is Robin and Bruce Wayne leaving him directions to the Bat Cave, to
Bruce fixing the Batman signal for Commissioner Gordon on the roof of Gotham
Police Department headquarters, Nolan set the stage for his story of Batman to
live on. The question is, will it?

DC Comics and Warner
Brothers seem hellbent on rebooting the franchise on the silver screen, even if
that introduction to a new Batman character might not happen until the rumored
Justice League film gets made. But while Nolan's gritty, dark depiction of
Batman and Bruce Wayne was popular, I highly doubt any reboot of the character
will be in the same vein.

Some may view that as a
problem. But I see it as an opportunity for Warner Brothers and fans to have the
best of both worlds. A continuation of Nolan's Gotham in novels and special
graphic novels can give those who are loyal to a more realistic take on the
Batman character a broader world to explore and enjoy. At the same time, a new
feature film reboot will give Warner Brothers a chance to continue capitalizing
on the Caped Crusader's immense popularity, without destroying the integrity of
Nolan's vision.

The idea would also open
up a fiction novel market for Batman that aside from a handful of books, has
never been adequately explored. Tie-ins with specifically-written comics and
even specialized online content could make such a move even more
profitable.

Nolan's films have
transcended audiences. The people going to see “Batman Begins,” “The Dark
Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises” weren't all Batman fans or superhero geeks.
Batman was presented in such a realistic and compelling manner, people went to
the theater to be entertained by a dramatic story. That needs to be recognized
and capitalized on by DC Comics. The market for Batman isn't just
run-of-the-mill comic book fans any longer.

In addition, the story
is wide open for more adventures. There are a ton of loose ends that were never
tied up in the trilogy. The Joker's whereabouts – very carefully avoided by
Nolan in the final film – are unknown. All the mobsters and villains Batman put
away are back on the streets and Gotham is inevitably going need its Dark Knight
again once the city is rebuilt.

Some might argue that
Batman intended John Blake to take over the mantle of the Bat, therefore
bringing the story full circle. I disagree. It was clear to me that by revealing
Blake's real name to be “Robin,” that Nolan intended that Batman wouldn't be
replaced by Blake. Rather, Blake will be the Caped Crusader's understudy once he
returns. No, Bruce doesn't want to be Batman forever. But any Bat-fan worth his
or her salt knows the fling with Selina Kyle won't last.

Bruce Wayne being
“dead,” could be spun into a big story about how the eccentric billionaire faked
his death and how the money he lost was due to fraudulent transactions. After a
period of time his fortune – minus the contents of Wayne Manor, the mansion and
grounds -- might be restored. The story would fit the playboy persona of Bruce
Wayne quite easily.

The Bat Cave still
exists, Bruce could get his penthouse again, and as far as we know, the Bunker
is also still active. Nolan's Batman world is very much alive and far from
concluded.

I'm not suggesting that
DC Comics and Warner Brothers re-use Nolan's Batman template for a new movie
with new actors cast in familiar roles. Like any Batman fan, I expect them to
reboot the entire franchise and to a degree, I embrace that. Getting a fresh
take on the character is exciting.

But The Dark Knight
trilogy was a cultural phenomenon that spanned Bat-fans and general movie-goers
alike. It crossed boundaries and connected with people unlike any other
superhero film ever made. If DC Comics is smart, they'll recognize that, take
heed of other successful officially licensed continuations such as Star Wars and
Star Trek and allow Nolan's vision of Batman and Gotham City to live on through
the fans.

Brian
Heaton is a regular contributor to Legions of Gotham. When not opining on
Batman-related issues, Brian spends his days as a professional
business-to-business journalist, covering technology use and policy. He can be
reached at briman04@yahoo.com.